eversion

About

eversion is a single player puzzle game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by Zaratustra Productions and was released on June 7, 2010. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Eversion," a single-player horror platformer, offers a good story, stellar gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a compelling soundtrack. As Zee Tee, rescue the Princess in a dimension-shifting journey through eight unique worlds, with retro-style platform gameplay and hand-drawn pixel art. Discover hidden lands, surprising plot twists, and earn one of three different endings for an unforgettable experience, especially when played alone at night.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,008 reviews

gameplay65 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Eversion is a unique platformer that cleverly combines cute aesthetics with a dark twist, providing an engaging experience.
The eversion mechanic allows for interesting puzzles and gameplay variations, making each level feel fresh and challenging.
The game has a charming art style and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.

The game is quite short, taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
The controls can feel imprecise at times, leading to frustrating moments during platforming sections.
Some players may find the difficulty spikes in later levels to be overly punishing, which could detract from the enjoyment.

gameplay
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay of Eversion is characterized by its unique "evert" mechanic, allowing players to shift between different layers of the game world, which alters the environment and adds depth to puzzle-solving. While the platforming elements are straightforward and can feel simplistic, the integration of this mechanic creates engaging challenges and a distinct atmosphere, though some players find the overall experience short and lacking in replayability. Overall, the game offers a blend of charming visuals and solid mechanics, making it a fun, albeit brief, platforming experience.
- “I love the everting mechanic and how going into deeper and deeper layers affects not only the visuals, but the music too.”
- “The game's evert mechanic allows the player to change the game's reality and manipulate the game's environment to solve puzzles.”
- “Eversion is a short but fun platformer with an interesting mechanic: everting through the different layers of the game, you can slightly manipulate terrain and circumstances in order to advance from world to world.”
- “There is no replayability in this game as there are no endgame mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
- “The platforming is sketchy (you must be pixel perfect to jump on one empty space), the evert mechanic is annoying, the soundtrack is annoying, and the game itself feels unfinished (you can't restart the level and the game suddenly closes after the ending scene).”
- “The gameplay is really basic, simple platforming with minor dimensional differences.”
music
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The music in Eversion is a notable aspect, with a chiptune soundtrack that evolves alongside the game's layers, enhancing the atmosphere and reflecting the changing tone from cheerful to eerie. While many players appreciate the fitting and immersive nature of the music, some find it repetitive and grating over time, particularly during challenging gameplay moments. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to complement the game's visuals and themes, though opinions vary on its execution and impact on the overall experience.
- “Eversion's soundtrack is fitting for the game's theme and adds to the game's overall atmosphere.”
- “The music changes on the current 'layer screen'.”
- “The music is wonderful and truly does a good job of portraying the current state of the game world.”
- “Even the music is pretty tedious and repetitive.”
- “There are a few sounds but continuous music which can get a little repetitive and tiring after a while and there is no sound option to lower/turn it off.”
- “The music is just existing well enough, but the other sound effects get grating.”
graphics
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The graphics of *Eversion* are characterized by a retro, pixelated style that evokes nostalgia for classic 8-bit and 16-bit games, effectively transitioning from cheerful to unsettling as players progress through the layers. While some players appreciate the simple yet charming visuals and the improved graphics in the Steam version, others feel that the graphics are basic and not the main focus of the game, which prioritizes gameplay and puzzle-solving. Overall, the aesthetic complements the game's themes, though opinions vary on its appeal and depth.
- “The graphics are simple yet fitting and effective, and the animation is quite smooth.”
- “The graphics range from cute to horrific, and the music changes appropriately, providing complete immersion.”
- “The graphics are brilliant for what they are, really capturing the feel of older titles.”
- “The graphics of Eversion are simple and pixelated, reminiscent of the classic 8-bit era.”
- “This is a very short game (about an hour), with very lackluster graphics.”
- “For the price, this graphics package is quite underwhelming.”
story
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting that it follows a generic "save the princess" trope without much depth. However, some reviews highlight intriguing plot twists and a deeper narrative that unfolds as players progress, suggesting that while the story may not be prominent, it offers layers worth exploring. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element to the gameplay, with mixed opinions on its effectiveness and engagement.
- “The game's story revolves around a cute flower named Zee who discovers a magical world by 'everting' or changing the game's reality.”
- “Eversion is one of those great things in a small package, bringing back the glory days of classic Mario while adding some gameplay twists and a simple but entertaining plot that makes this a cute horror platformer well worth playing.”
- “The story is like the typical 'hero must rescue princess', but with some really interesting twists thrown in, which will make you want to go deeper into the world until there's no coming back.”
- “The setup in the game for the story is mostly non-existent.”
- “The story is basically nonexistent.”
- “There wasn't very much explanation for what goes on in the game, which is acceptable and I suppose added an eerie element to the story.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
50%
7%
The atmosphere of Eversion is widely praised for its ability to shift from a cheerful and cute aesthetic to a darker, more unsettling tone as players progress through the game. The soundtrack complements this transformation, enhancing the immersive experience, while the clever design of the levels adds depth to the atmosphere. However, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, suggesting that the atmospheric elements could have been more polished or cohesive.
- “Eversion's soundtrack is fitting for the game's theme and adds to the game's overall atmosphere.”
- “The music and scenery reflect the current atmosphere of the game very well, and become more and more involved the more you progress through it.”
- “A great platformer that is equal parts charming, atmospheric, and haunting.”
- “The game's atmosphere never ends up being as scary as it tries to be and most of the platforming is frustrating due to the unrefined controls.”
- “This is why I can't recommend this game at $5, because I feel like very little effort was put into creating a creepy atmosphere.”
- “I feel like it would have been a better game if it had chosen puzzles and atmosphere or unforgiving platformer and spent more time polishing whichever one they chose.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting that secrets, collectibles, and multiple endings enhance the experience, while others criticize the lack of substantial endgame mechanics and limited content after the initial playthrough. Although some features like a level editor and time attack mode offer additional replay value, many reviewers agree that the overall replayability is low, with most players finishing the game quickly and not returning once all secrets are uncovered.
- “Secrets and alternate routes extend the replay value of the game.”
- “The game took me 40 minutes to finish, but there are multiple endings to get so that extends the replay value.”
- “The level editor and time attack bring some extra replay value to the table as well.”
- “There is no replayability in this game as there are no end game mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
- “The only negative aspect is that I doubt there is any replay value once you've unlocked all the secrets the game has to offer.”
- “Oh, and it's 40 minutes long with close to no replayability.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring repetitive backtracking and multiple attempts to complete levels or collect items. Many reviews highlight that the need to replay sections for gems or achievements detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel monotonous rather than challenging. While some appreciate the game's potential, the grinding elements are frequently criticized for being overly simplistic and unsatisfying.
- “Because of these things, the game gradually becomes tedious to play.”
- “Cool game, but really not worth playing. Getting all the gems was just way too tedious, especially those last three. I had to go through the whole level seven times, then break some blocks, then go all the way back to the beginning and do it all over again. If I died, I had to start from scratch. That sucked.”
- “This game is a thoroughly mediocre platformer whose end levels are made incredibly tedious by the seemingly tacked-on 'puzzle' elements.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of wholesome charm and unexpected depth, culminating in a heartwarming true ending that subverts typical romantic tropes. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke warmth and nostalgia, despite its eerie undertones, making it a unique experience in the platforming genre. Overall, it successfully balances cuteness with emotional resonance, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “The aesthetic is a bit saccharine, but if you want a wholesome, cute game that's full of heart and will make you feel warm, you need look no further than Eversion.”
- “If you collect all 240 gems and beat the secret 8th level (stupidly hard level, btw; the layer 6->5 puzzle is the worst), you get to see the true ending, which, for all its 'guy gets the girl' cheesiness, is actually pretty subversive and unexpected, which makes for one of the most romantic and heartwarming endings I've ever seen in a game like this.”
- “The true ending was actually really heartwarming, somehow.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a whimsical and cheerful aesthetic that contrasts sharply with its darker themes as players progress, creating a blend of silliness and unsettling elements. Players find joy in comical visuals, such as giant hands and quirky monsters, while also experiencing a shift to more sinister humor, appealing to both children and adults. Overall, the humor effectively balances lightheartedness with creepiness, making for a unique and engaging experience.
- “The game starts with a very cheerful and pleasant aesthetic, but every eversion makes things drastically different than how they started, initially making silly and funny changes but gradually becoming darker and more sinister in theme until the game's atmosphere is really unsettling.”
- “I was too busy laughing at the giant hands that comically shoot up from death pits.”
- “My 6-year-old brother loves it; he starts laughing hysterically when the flowers twist into barbed wire and the enemies start to explode into blood clouds.”